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House committee backs bill requiring annual reporting of sworn officers to standards commission
Summary
A House committee advanced House Bill 287, which would require annual mandatory reporting of full‑time sworn, APO‑certified law enforcement officers to the Standards and Training Commission and authorize penalties and funding holds for noncompliance.
A House committee voted to advance House Bill 287, a bill that would require law enforcement agencies to report annually the number of full‑time sworn, APO‑certified officers to the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (APOST). The measure also directs the commission to forward submitted data to the attorney general's office and establishes penalties for agencies that fail to submit required reports.
The bill’s sponsor, Representative Wanda Land, told the committee the measure is intended to create a consistent, statewide accounting of sworn officers as legislators consider multiple public‑safety bills this session. She said the bill would require an initial report by July 1, 2025, and annual reporting thereafter beginning Feb. 1 of the following year.
Supporters said the requirement is intended to fill information gaps in municipalities and other jurisdictions where current reporting is inconsistent or voluntary. Marty Mitchell, identified to the committee as the state scribe information director, described the existing voluntary electronic reporting system used to feed national crime statistics and said many agencies do not currently submit numbers reliably.
Committee members asked how responsibility and enforcement would be assigned. Several members said the bill’s language should specify which official at an agency would be accountable if reporting is not submitted; the committee discussed clarifying that the agency’s chief executive (for example, a chief of police or sheriff) would be responsible for ensuring submission. The committee also discussed existing timelines for different reports (for example, certain crime reports that should be filed within 72 hours) and whether the Standards and Training Commission would set specific deadlines and enforcement procedures.
Under the draft considered, failure to submit crime statistics could be a misdemeanor and expose municipalities to fines between $1,000 and $10,000; sponsors discussed additional administrative consequences such as placing grant funding on hold for noncompliant agencies. Committee members asked whether universities, churches or other entities with police powers would be covered; staff said some non‑municipal entities do not have APOST‑certified officers and that the requirement focuses on municipalities, counties and agencies with certified officers.
The committee adopted the subcommittee report and voted to advance the bill out of committee by voice vote. The committee indicated it would work with sponsors and the Standards and Training Commission to clarify which official is designated as responsible and to add any needed timing language before floor consideration.
The measure now moves to the full chamber’s calendar for further consideration.
